SAS24 News

24/02/2023

GENEVA, Switzerland - When Russia sent troops into Ukraine a year ago, the director of the Kyiv National Art Gallery had only one thing on his mind: the safety of the paintings. As air sirens blared, Yuri Vakulenko packed a bag and headed to the gallery, where he would spend the next 66 days living in the basement, a bulletproof vest and gas mask at the ready, and caring for the exhibits....

GENEVA, Switzerland – When Russia sent troops into Ukraine a year ago, the director of the Kyiv National Art Gallery had only one thing on his mind: the safety of the paintings. As air sirens…

22/02/2023

Birkin bagmaker Hermes said that wealthy Chinese clientele snapped up its products in the fourth quarter even as the rest of the luxury sector took a hit from rising COVID infections helping it beat sales and margin forecasts. Hermes also saw strong demand from Chinese clients across products during the Lunar New Year, Executive Chairman said on Friday, adding that the company was looking at 2023 with confidence....

Birkin bagmaker Hermes said that wealthy Chinese clientele snapped up its products in the fourth quarter even as the rest of the luxury sector took a hit from rising COVID infections helping it bea…

01/01/2023

PARIS, France - Rafa Nadal brushed off talks of retiring anytime soon after the 22-times Grand Slam champion was stunned by Cameron Norrie in the United Cup mixed team tournament on Saturday, saying he still enjoyed competing at the highest level. Nadal's preparations for his Australian Open title defence got off to a shaky start as Norrie beat him 3-6 6-3 6-4 to seal his first victory over the 36-year-old Spaniard in their fifth career meeting....

PARIS, France – Rafa Nadal brushed off talks of retiring anytime soon after the 22-times Grand Slam champion was stunned by Cameron Norrie in the United Cup mixed team tournament on Saturday,…

28/12/2022

PARIS, France - Lionel Messi will return to Paris St Germain at the beginning of January, the Ligue 1 club's manager Christophe Galtier said on Tuesday. The Argentine forward, seven - times Ballon D'Or winner, scored two goals to lead his country to victory over France on penalties in the World Cup final nine days ago. The 35-year-old Messi will miss PSG's home league game against Strasbourg on Wednesday and the trip to Lens on Sunday....

PARIS, France – Lionel Messi will return to Paris St Germain at the beginning of January, the Ligue 1 club’s manager Christophe Galtier said on Tuesday. The Argentine forward, seven & #8…

28/12/2022

PARIS, France - Australia's Nick Kyrgios has withdrawn from the inaugural edition of the United Cup due to injury, organisers of the new mixed team event said on Wednesday. Kyrgios, who is ranked 22nd in the world and reached this year's Wimbledon final, was set to lead Australia in the joint ATP and WTA event, which is being held in Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth and offers ranking points and $15 million in prize money....

PARIS, France – Australia’s Nick Kyrgios has withdrawn from the inaugural edition of the United Cup due to injury, organisers of the new mixed team event said on Wednesday. Kyrgios, who…

26/12/2022

MILAN, Italy - Pietro Ferrari, son of founder Enzo and the second largest shareholder in Ferrari, set up a family trust this month to manage his stake of around 10% in the Italian luxury sports carmaker, a U.S. regulatory filing showed. The move outlines plans for succession in relation to the group's shareholding structure. Piero Ferrari's daughter Antonella and his grandsons Enzo Mattioli Ferrari and Piero Galassi Ferrari have been appointed as the trust beneficiaries, the filing published late on Monday showed....

MILAN, Italy – Pietro Ferrari, son of founder Enzo and the second largest shareholder in Ferrari, set up a family trust this month to manage his stake of around 10% in the Italian luxury spor…

08/12/2022

PARIS, France - Chinese leader Xi Jinping met on Thursday with Saudi Arabia's king and crown prince while on a visit to the kingdom, solidifying ties with a region crucial to his country's energy supplies as sanctions intensify on Russian over its war on Ukraine. Xi arrived at Al Yamama Palace in Riyadh and was greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, King Salman's assertive son who stands ready to rule the oil-rich kingdom in the decades to come....

PARIS, France – Chinese leader Xi Jinping met on Thursday with Saudi Arabia’s king and crown prince while on a visit to the kingdom, solidifying ties with a region crucial to his countr…

17/11/2022

PARIS, France - Serbia's Novak Djokovic has confirmed that he will take part in the next year's Australian Open after being granted a visa. ''I was very happy to receive the news yesterday'', the 35-year-old Serb, who was sent home from Australia on the eve of last year's event after a row about his COVID-19 vaccination status, said after his victory over Andrey Rublev at the ATP Finals on Wednesday.

PARIS, France – Serbia’s Novak Djokovic has confirmed that he will take part in the next year’s Australian Open after being granted a visa. ”I was very happy to receive the …

14/11/2022

PARIS, France - U.S. President Joe Biden warned President Xi Jinping on Monday that the United States would enhance its security position in Asia if Beijing cannot rein in North Korea's weapons programmes, and during a three-hour meeting, the two leaders also had strong words about Taiwan. Bident told a news conference after his first in-person talks with Xi since becoming president in early 2021 that they had blunt talks over a wide array of issues that are contributing to the worst U.S.-Chinese ties in decades....

PARIS, France – U.S. President Joe Biden warned President Xi Jinping on Monday that the United States would enhance its security position in Asia if Beijing cannot rein in North Korea’s…

14/11/2022

Taylor Swift walked away with four prizes at MTV's Europe Music Awards on Sunday, including best video for her 10-minute ''All Too Well''. Double-award winners included Nicki Minaj for best song and best hip-hop, and the French DJ and record producer David Guetta won the best electronic award and best collaboration. The event, broadcast on MTV from Duesseldorf in western Germany, honored musicians from Brazil and South Korea....

Taylor Swift walked away with four prizes at MTV’s Europe Music Awards on Sunday, including best video for her 10-minute ”All Too Well”. Double-award winners included Nicki Minaj …

14/11/2022

PARIS, France - The children of Iran's revolution are carrying out their own revolution, said French President Emmanuel Macron in an interview with French radio broadcast on Monday, as Iran holds seven French citizens in the country amid deteriorating ties between the two countries. France lashed out at Iran on Oct.6, accusing it of ''dictatorial practices'' and taking its citizens hostage after a video was aired in which a French couple appeared to confess to spying, after weeks of unrest that Iran has linked to foreign foes.

PARIS, France – The children of Iran’s revolution are carrying out their own revolution, said French President Emmanuel Macron in an interview with French radio broadcast on Monday, as …

25/10/2022

PARIS, France - French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Rishi Sunak on Tuesday on becoming the new UK Prime Minister and added in a Twitter message that he would work with him on common challenges such as the war in Ukraine.

PARIS, France – French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Rishi Sunak on Tuesday on becoming the new UK Prime Minister and added in a Twitter message that he would work with him on commo…

09/10/2022

MILAN, Italy - Italian brand Valentino has decided to switch off the lights in its shops earlier at night to save energy and give a signal of 'environmental awareness', following in the footsteps of the French luxury giant LVMH. Starting from last night, lights in around 95 Valentino's boutiques around the globe are to be turned off nightly at 10 p.m., the company said on Friday, adding it estimates a daily decrease in energy consumption of over 800 kWh....

MILAN, Italy – Italian brand Valentino has decided to switch off the lights in its shops earlier at night to save energy and give a signal of ‘environmental awareness’, following …

03/10/2022

MILAN, Italy - Ferrari said on Monday some internal documents had been posted online and the luxury sports carmaker was working to identify how this had happened. It will implement all the appropriate actions as needed; it said in an emailed statement. Ferrari added it had no evidence of a breach of its systems or ransomware and said there had been no disruption to its business and operations....

MILAN, Italy – Ferrari said on Monday some internal documents had been posted online and the luxury sports carmaker was working to identify how this had happened. It will implement all the ap…

18/09/2022

PARIS, France - Volkswagen is targeting a valuation of 70 billion to 75 billion euros ($70.1-75.1) billion for luxury sportscar maker Porsche as part of a planned initial public offering (IPO) of the division, a person familiar with the matter said. The pricing formed the basis for discussions in the supervisory board that were taking place on Sunday. Volkswagen was expected to announce the pricing range of the Porche IPO, planned for late September of early October, later in the evening.

PARIS, France – Volkswagen is targeting a valuation of 70 billion to 75 billion euros ($70.1-75.1) billion for luxury sportscar maker Porsche as part of a planned initial public offering (IPO…

08/09/2022

> 's son will rule under the name , it has now been confirmed.

08/09/2022

NEW YORK - Nick Kyrgios was fined $14,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct following his U.S. Open quarter - final loss to Karen Khachanov on Tuesday where the fiery Australian demolished two rackets after the defeat. The fine was the largest leveled by the tournament so far this year and brings Kyrgios' total up to $32,500 for his five offenses in New York....

NEW YORK – Nick Kyrgios was fined $14,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct following his U.S. Open quarter – final loss to Karen Khachanov on Tuesday where the fiery Australian demolished tw…

06/09/2022

's new Prime Minister spoke with President in her first call with a foreign leader as she accepted an invitation for her to visit Ukraine & reiterated her support for the country in its war with Russia.

06/09/2022

PARIS, France - The 2022 edition of the WTA Finals will be held in Forth Worth, Texas from Oct. 31 - Nov. 7 under a one - year agreement, the women's tennis body announced on Tuesday as the season - ending tournament returns to the United States after 17 years. Last year's tournament was held in Guadalajara, Mexico instead of Shenzen, China after the WTA removed the Asian swing of tournaments from its calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic....

PARIS, France – The 2022 edition of the WTA Finals will be held in Forth Worth, Texas from Oct. 31 – Nov. 7 under a one – year agreement, the women’s tennis body announced o…

06/09/2022

PARIS, France - Germany will soon drop mask requirements on commercial flights introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said on Tuesday, after flagship airline Lufthansa complained that the rule was no longer enforceable. Authorities will focus instead on making sure people wear face - and - mouth coverings on public transport in Germany, Lauterbach said in Berlin, after the coalition government agreed to axe the measure....

PARIS, France – Germany will soon drop mask requirements on commercial flights introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said on Tuesday, after flagship airline…

25/08/2022

Former world number one is pregnant and will skip the , which starts in New York on Monday, the three - time Grand Slam winner from Germany said.

'I really wanted to play the but eventually I decided that two against one just isn't a fair competition', Kerber said in a cheeky post on Twitter on Wednesday.

'For the next months, I will take a break from travelling the globe as a tennis player but then again, I believe it's for the best possible reason! I will miss all of you'.

25/08/2022

NEW YORK - Former world number one Angelique Kerber is pregnant and will skip the U.S. Open, which starts in New York on Monday, the three - time Grand Slam winner from Germany said. The left - handed Kerber, 34, last played at Wimbledon where she lost in the third round to Belgium's Elise Mertens. She won her maiden Grand Slam at the Australian Open in 2016 before lifting the U.S....

NEW YORK – Former world number one Angelique Kerber is pregnant and will skip the U.S. Open, which starts in New York on Monday, the three – time Grand Slam winner from Germany said. Th…

23/08/2022

MILAN, Italy - British sportscar maker McLaren said on Monday it was entering the Indian market, with its first retail outlet set to open in Mumbai later this year. India is largely a low - cost and price - sensitive car market in which luxury models account for just over 1% of total annual of about 3 million. McLaren said it had selected Infinity Cars as its retail partner in the country, with the Mumbai outlet set to open in October....

MILAN, Italy – British sportscar maker McLaren said on Monday it was entering the Indian market, with its first retail outlet set to open in Mumbai later this year. India is largely a low & #8…

16/08/2022

PARIS, France - Simona Halep ended Beatriz Haddad Maia's dream run in Toronto with a hard - fought 6-3 2-6 6-3 victory to claim her third Canadian Open title on Sunday. Halep's serving woes from her semifinal win carried over at the outset the final as she produced four double faults and was broken in the opening game before quickly falling 3-0 behind....

PARIS, France – Simona Halep ended Beatriz Haddad Maia’s dream run in Toronto with a hard – fought 6-3 2-6 6-3 victory to claim her third Canadian Open title on Sunday. Halep& #821…

16/08/2022

PARIS, France - Heavy rainfall hit Paris on Tuesday evening after a recent heatwave across France, affecting metro stations in the French capital. The RATP transport organisation said several Paris metro stations had been affected by floding. Metro France has said that much southern France could be hit by storms later this week.

PARIS, France – Heavy rainfall hit Paris on Tuesday evening after a recent heatwave across France, affecting metro stations in the French capital. The RATP transport organisation said several…

07/08/2022

SARAJEVO - Croatian water - bomber planes joined dozens of firefighters on Sunday to help contain a wildfire that killed one man an the Adriatic island of Hvar, Croatian media reported. The fire, which broke out early in the afternoon, threatened residential areas close to the town of Stari Grad. The man died when he tried to keep the flames away from his property, state news agency Hina reported....

SARAJEVO – Croatian water – bomber planes joined dozens of firefighters on Sunday to help contain a wildfire that killed one man an the Adriatic island of Hvar, Croatian media reported.…

07/08/2022

Luxury British carmaker 's first - half operating profit more than double, boosted by increased customisation of cars as sales rose significantly in Europe and Britain despite ongoing global economic uncertainty.

The unit of German carmaker Volkswagen on Friday posted an operating profit for first six months of 2022 of 398 million euros ($403 million), more than the 178 million euros in the same period of last year and also its full - year 2021 profit of 289 million euros.

'Despite the continued global economic instability, it is promising to see Bentley is showing financial consistency as we reinvent the company', Chief executive Adrian Hallmark said in a statement.

Global sales rose almost 3% to 7,398 cars, up from 7.199 in the first half of 2021, while revenue per car jumped almost 15% to 2012,000 euros from 186,000, as high - net worth customers took advantage of a customisation program.

That pushed half - year revenue at the luxury carmaker up 29% to 1.707 billion euros from 1.324 billion in the same period last year.

The company said sales were up 33% in Europe and 44% in the United Kingdom. Bentley did not provide numbers for its strongest market, the United States, but said China had been impacted by the lengthy lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic.

07/08/2022

PARIS, France - Luxury British carmaker Bentley's first - half operating profit more than double, boosted by increased customisation of cars as sales rose significantly in Europe and Britain despite ongoing global economic uncertainty. The unit of German carmaker Volkswagen on Friday posted an operating profit for first six months of 2022 of 398 million euros ($403 million), more than the 178 million euros in the same period of last year and also its full - year 2021 profit of 289 million euros....

PARIS, France – Luxury British carmaker Bentley’s first – half operating profit more than double, boosted by increased customisation of cars as sales rose significantly in Europe …

03/08/2022

ZURICH, Switzerland - The Swiss government impose further sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine on Wednesday, in line with the European Union's latest measures on gold and gold products, the cabinet said. The government said that it had made two new exceptions with respect to transactions related to agricultural products and oil supplies to third countries, which the EU has as well, in order to avoid any disruptions in payment channels....

ZURICH, Switzerland – The Swiss government impose further sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine on Wednesday, in line with the European Union’s latest measures on gold and go…

03/08/2022

PARIS, France - The U.S. State Department approved the potential sale of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile interceptors to the United Arab Emirates and Patriot missile interceptors to Saudi Arabia in separate deals worth as much as $5.3 billion, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. The potential deals, which would resupply key missile defense systems for the two countries, cam just weeks after President Joe Biden's July trip to the region....

PARIS, France – The U.S. State Department approved the potential sale of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile interceptors to the United Arab Emirates and Patriot missile inter…